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Taylor Hall figured out, being on the ice is better than in the rehab room, so at times, discretion is the better part of valour.

Hall has done a better job of picking his spots when it comes to putting himself in vulnerable positions, and in turn, has played every game for the Edmonton Oilers thus far this season.

Staying in the lineup has allowed Hall to put up impressive offensive totals, which culminated Wednesday with a selection to the 2016 NHL All-Star game in Nashville.

“Maybe I’m a bit more of a chicken sometimes, for lack of a better word,” Hall smiled after practice Wednesday. “I just don’t feel like getting hit as much. It’s not as fun to be on the ground and on the IR all the time. Sometimes I might give up on a play to save myself a little bit, but I think I’m still able to be the same player that I was before. I’m just in the lineup every night, which is really important.”

Hall entered the NHL in 2010, playing the same way his did in junior hockey, all-out with little regard to his well-being. It put the winger in some perilous situations, which resulted in ankle injuries, shoulder injuries and knee injuries, among other ailments.

Playing a more controlled game has benefited Hall and the Oilers.

He had not made it unscathed through the Christmas break prior to this season.

“That’s what happens when you’re thrust into the NHL at 18, you don’t have time to get used to seasoning in the AHL, you go right into it,” Hall said. “Unfortunately for me, it took four or five years to grasp it, and knock on wood, I want to stay this healthy all the time. It’s way more fun to be playing game than to be rehabbing and riding the bike all the time.”

Heading towards Friday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hall leads the Oilers in scoring this season with 16 goals and 41 points in 41 games.

He’s currently sixth in NHL scoring and is on pace to surpass a career-high, 80 points in a season.

“I still would classify him as a bully when he plays, if he ever loses that, he won’t be as effective,” Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. “He does bully his way to offensive opportunities with and without the puck.

“I like the fact that he wants to shoot it. Every time it’s on his tape, he wants to shoot it. That opens up space for other players. You just have to look at the shooting percentage, figure yours out and know how many shots you have to get before you score a goal and the more the merrier, and he seems to be doing a good job of it.”

Hall, along with centre Leon Draisaitl and winger Teddy Purcell, has been the Oilers most consistent threat this season. The trio have accounted for a third of the team’s goals on the year.

This will be Hall’s second All-Star appearance, selected to participate in the Young Stars game in 2011.

“He’s a very deserving candidate from our team,” McLellan said. “I think he’s done some tremendous things for our team this year, starting right at training camp, accepting the buy-in part and leading that way. It hasn’t always been smooth but he has been real productive. He drives our team offensively on the ice, he’s getting better and better defensively and his awareness there. His practice habits have been good.”

It’s hard to imagine where the Oilers would be without Hall this season, particularly with Jordan Eberle injured at the start of the season and Connor McDavid going down 13 games into his career.

“I’m excited, it’s an honour, it’s something I’m very proud of and it’s something that I’m very happy to be included in with a group of guys like that,” Hall said of his All-Star selection. “It’s been a pretty good first half with the help of some pretty good linemates and some coaching that I’ve had this season, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Despite being last in the Western Conference standings, the Oilers were still within reach of a playoff spot in a weak Pacific Division.

They woke up Wednesday three points back of the Calgary Flames for the third and final playoff spot in the division. They have two games left on a season-high, six-game homestand before embarking on a two-game road trip.

“I think there has been a lot of improvement with our team, the way we’re handling the bigger, stronger teams, the way we’re able to stay in 1-0 games,” Hall said. “I think you’re seeing the same growth in my game, taking more of a leadership role on the ice. As far as defensive roles go, I think I’ve improved a lot in that area. There is still a long way to go, but I think we’re trending up.”

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As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Oilers winger Taylor Hall's more cautious approach this season paying dividends for him and team

Taylor Hall figured out, being on the ice is better than in the rehab room, so at times, discretion is the better part of valour.

Hall has done a better job of picking his spots when it comes to putting himself in vulnerable positions, and in turn, has played every game for the Edmonton Oilers thus far this season.

Staying in the lineup has allowed Hall to put up impressive offensive totals, which culminated Wednesday with a selection to the 2016 NHL All-Star game in Nashville.

“Maybe I’m a bit more of a chicken sometimes, for lack of a better word,” Hall smiled after practice Wednesday. “I just don’t feel like getting hit as much. It’s not as fun to be on the ground and on the IR all the time. Sometimes I might give up on a play to save myself a little bit, but I think I’m still able to be the same player that I was before. I’m just in the lineup every night, which is really important.”

Hall entered the NHL in 2010, playing the same way his did in junior hoc